Learning Change Management From Art

Art has been a key medium for ‘change’ in past centuries, so art history makes you realize that there is little new in the world.  Whatever we are trying to do,  someone has probably attempted before,  thereby providing a source of learning.  I was reminded of this on a visit to Cambridge  this week to study William Blake and Samuel Palmer - artists of the Romantic era who lived through the last huge economic change, from agricultural to industrial society.

Blake was a social visionary reacting against the deductive rationalism of  Isaac Newton and the Enlightenment.  A way of thinking that reduced everything objectively to it’s smallest part to be analysed,  but which often seemed to miss the bigger picture;  and, more importantly discouraged people from using their imaginations; cutting them off from their emotions.  Not so different then to the way businesses today have reduced everything down to a process and forgotten the need for spontaneity, relationships and experiences.

Blake’s answer was to take familiar stories of the day,  from the Bible,  Dante, and Bunyan  and rework them in ‘art’ to criticise ‘poor practices’ whilst demonstrating good ones.  The irony is that whilst his work was mainly overlooked in his time,  quite possibly because he was a bad networker and did not market well, his ideas to inspire imaginative thinking and individual spirituality are taking centre stage again in 21st century business .

The Tate in London has an art room where you can take a party to look at a small set of requested paintings - the staff are very knowledgeable.  A good way to inspire some creative thinking for your 2008 plans - and just what Blake wanted to achieve.